On September 18, 2025, asteroid 2025 FA22 completed a close, yet entirely safe, passage by Earth. The celestial body, estimated to be approximately 290 meters in length and an average diameter of 166 meters, underscores the advancements in near-Earth object monitoring and planetary defense capabilities.
Discovered in March 2025 by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in Hawaii, 2025 FA22 was initially flagged with a minimal probability of impacting Earth in 2089, briefly placing it on the European Space Agency's (ESA) risk list. However, subsequent, more precise observations refined its trajectory, definitively ruling out any threat to our planet, including in 2089, when its next close approach to Earth is expected at a distance of about 6 million kilometers. The asteroid approached at a distance of approximately 842,000
Amateur astronomers equipped with telescopes with an aperture of 30 centimeters or more were able to observe 2025 FA22 from September 20 to 21, reaching peak brightness. The Virtual Telescope Project organized a live stream of the event, making it accessible to the public worldwide via YouTube. This event served as a practical exercise for the global planetary defense community, allowing for the refinement of orbital measurements and the study of the asteroid's physical characteristics. Such campaigns are crucial for enhancing international cooperation in monitoring potentially hazardous celestial bodies.
The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) utilized the passage of 2025 FA22 as part of a coordinated campaign to test observational and data-sharing protocols. This collaborative effort, involving numerous organizations and astronomers globally, helps to hone the collective ability to respond to potential threats. The Pan-STARRS telescopes, funded in large part by NASA's Near Earth Observation Program, are instrumental in discovering such objects. This close encounter with 2025 FA22, occurring on average only once a decade for objects of this size and proximity, provided a tangible demonstration of the robust systems in place for tracking and assessing potential asteroid threats. While this particular asteroid posed no risk, the rigorous monitoring and swift re-evaluation of its trajectory highlight the continuous efforts to ensure Earth's safety from cosmic impacts. The data gathered from this event will further strengthen our understanding of near-earth objects and improve future planetary defense strategies.
Analysis of 2025 FA22's orbit revealed periodic close approaches to Earth. Although the current flyby was absolutely safe, scientists continue to study its trajectory. The next notable close approach is expected on August 20, 2036, at a much greater distance, and more significant close approaches are predicted only in 2089 and 2173.
The asteroid's mass, a thousand times greater than that of the Chelyabinsk meteorite, underscores the importance of constant monitoring of space. For comparison, the Arizona crater was formed by the impact of an object whose mass was 10-100 times smaller.